Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Ceist:48 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are involuntarily admitted to psychiatric institutions each year; and the average length of stay in each case. [17323/96]
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Institution Admissions.
Limerick East): Statistics in relation to the activities of our psychiatric hospitals and units are compiled on behalf of my Department by the Health Research Board. The board's most recent report, that for the year ending 31 December 1994, shows that the proportion of involuntary admissions has remained at 11 per cent of all admissions for some years now, accounting for 2,924 admissions in 1994.
In the same year 2,797 involuntarily detained patients were discharged from in-patient care (excluding deaths). The following table illustrates the length of stay in each case:
|
Length of Stay |
Number of Patients |
Percentage of Patients |
|
Under 1 week |
584 |
20.9 |
|
1-2 weeks |
440 |
15.7 |
|
2-4 weeks |
605 |
21.6 |
|
1-3 months |
803 |
28.7 |
|
Above 3 months |
365 |
13.1 |